LEONID KUCHMA
President of Ukraine

Leonid Danilovych Kuchma was born on the 9th of August,
1938, in the Chernihiv region, Ukraine. Ukrainian by nationality.

Mr. Kuchma graduated from Dnipropetrovsk State University,
Department of Physical Engineering, in 1960. Since 1991 he has been
a member of the Engineering Academy of Ukraine. Since 1992 he has
been a professor of Dnipropetrovsk State University: Ph.D. in Mechanical
Engineering. He is a recipient of two State Prizes, the Lenin Prize
and the State Prize of Ukrainian SSR, for achievements in designing
and development of rocket and space technologies, he is the author
of a range of scientific monographs, books and articles in the above
field.

From 1960 to 1982 President Kuchma worked as a technical
designer at the "Pivdenne" (Southern) Design Bureau of
the Pivdennyi Machine - Building Works - the world largest space
industry complex, then as a technical director at the Baykonur Space
Launch Complex. In 1982 he was appointed the First Deputy to the
Chief Designer of "Pivdenne," and from 1986 to 1992 he
worked as the Director General of the same Concern.

In 1990, and 1994, he was elected as a member to the
Ukrainian Parliament - the Verkhovna Rada.

Mr. Kuchma was appointed Prime Minister of Ukraine,
October 1992, and he remained in that post until September, 1993.
In 1993 he was elected President of the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists
and Entrepreneurs.

In July, 1994, after a nationwide election, running
with six other presidential aspirants, Leonid Kuchma was elected
President of Ukraine.

Mr. Kuchma is married to Lydmila, and has a daughter
and a grandson.

As the leader of state Mr. Kuchma upholds the task
of strengthening the independence and territorial integrity of the
country, and has impressively contributed to transforming Ukraine's
of the post-totalitarian society into a democratic nation based
on free market principles with guarantees of the basic human rights
and freedoms. In 1994 he initiated the constitutional process, created
the Constitutional Commission, and took an active role in the of
adoption of the new Constitution of Ukraine in 1996.